Episode 100: How did this %@#! bridge get its name?

Rebecca Bratspies and Natalie Gomez-Velez have been colleagues for twenty years, both professors of law at CUNY School of Law. In this episode they talk about Professor Bratspies’ book, Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues and Heroes Behind New York’s Place Names (Arcadia Publishing 2023).

Professor Bratspies was motivated to embark on this project while stuck in a traffic jam in the Bronx. Her frustration at the famously busy Major Deegan Expressway led to the question, “Who were these people and why do they name things after them?” For many years her work has been in the area of environmental justice and human rights. While Naming Gotham may look at first glance like a departure, it’s not. It, too, addresses issues of power and social inequality and incorporates legal history such as the origins of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Listeners will get a preview of some of the so-called villains – Richard Riker, Peter Stuyvesant – and heroes – Jackie Robinson, Billie Jean King, Herbert Lehman* – whose sometimes surprising stories are told in Naming Gotham. Profs. Bratspies and Gomez-Velez also talk about connections between teaching and some of the named parties as well as the uses of history and the way it repeats itself. And as they agree, there is always something more to learn about New York City.

You can learn more about Rebecca Bratspies at https://www.rebeccabratspies.com/ and follow her on Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

You can learn more about Natalie Gomez-Velez at https://www.nataliegomezvelez.com/ and follow her on LinkedIn.

This episode continues a collaboration with CUNY Academy. Rebecca Bratspies is a past participant in their book talk series.

*An article about naming CUNY places appeared in the PSC CUNY Clarion.

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